Question

1. environment the united states released 5.877 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels in a recent year. if 1 trillion pounds = 0.4536 billion metric tons, how many trillion pounds of carbon dioxide did the united states release in that year?

Explanation:

Step1: Set up the proportion

Let \(x\) be the number of trillion pounds. We know that \(1\) trillion pounds \( = 0.4536\) billion metric tons. So we have the proportion \(\frac{1}{0.4536}=\frac{x}{5.877}\).

Step2: Solve for \(x\)

Cross - multiply: \(0.4536x = 5.877\). Then \(x=\frac{5.877}{0.4536}\).

Step3: Calculate the value

\(x=\frac{5.877}{0.4536}\approx12.96\)

Answer:

The United States released approximately \(12.96\) trillion pounds of carbon dioxide in that year.